Ethnic
Media put everything into their Stories .. the Mainstream Media is not
interested

By
William Doyle-Marshall

The
role of the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada (NEPMCC) in
uniting Canadians by its work came in for high praise during the
organization’s Canada Day Celebration at the Whistlers Restaurant.

“Without
you the main stream media does not have the heart to do it,” said Judy
Sgro Member of the House of Commons.

Having
been exposed to the ethnic media throughout her political career Sgro
admitted that members of the ethnic media put everything into their
stories. “You cover so many of those issues that only you would cover
because the mainstream media is not interested. You touch the lives of so
many people and I am grateful for the work that you do on behalf of all of
us as Canadians to deliver the message to those that need to hear it from
you,” Sgro added.

Dr.
Gervan Fearon, Dean of the Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education
expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the work done by the members
of the Council. Fundamentally, they have contributed to the betterment of
the inclusion of communities in Canada and generated a more inclusive
society at large, he alluded.

“Additionally
I think your work assist in telling the stories that’s important to many
of our communities and by so doing you help to make members of these
communities feel a part of Canada which is important on this special
weekend as we celebrate Canada Day,” Dr. Fearon continued.

Asha
Razak, the council’s Chief Executive Officer, told guests the
celebration was an opportunity to see the modern day Canada where all the
races, nations and religions are celebrating together the great day of the
birth of their great country – Canada.

In
her welcoming address Razak acknowledged the struggles of the brave men
and women in the Canadian forces who stand on guard here at home and
abroad serving the interest of the Canadian people and the ideals of
freedom, equality and democracy for every citizen of the international
community.

As
the CEO reminded all that it was a non partisan gathering where they were
there to celebrate freedom, dreams, hopes and struggles of a new life, she
said NEPMCC was celebrating 144th anniversary of Canada -- a
country with a great spirit of acceptance and inclusiveness of sympathy,
willing to help and provide opportunities for the future of all its
citizens and their children.

Razak
was also proud that Canada is a country where every culture is celebrated
and every religion is accepted; every language is free to flourish and
citizens are encouraged to respect and honour their cultural traditions
and to be proud of their cultural backgrounds and traditions.

Patrons
heard they were living ina country that is proud, strong and peaceful, loyal to its
friends and to its ideals of freedom, equality and respect of every
culture, every language and every religion.

Keynote
speaker Bob Rae, Leader of the Liberal Party in Parliament reminded the
250 patrons present that Freedom is very special. All the multicultural
media, all of the voices that are in newspapers, on the Internet, on the
radio and everywhere, are expressing a reality about Canada that other
people wouldn’t be able to cover. “The so called mainstream media
wouldn’t necessarily be able to reflect all of that,” he concluded.

One
of the things about the Internet and blogs is that everybody now is a
journalist, Rae said. “All you need is an I-phone or a Black Berry or
put up your cameras. Everybody’s part of this media now; everybody is
part of the communication world that we are in.”

While
he doesn’t always like all the things that the media have said about
him, Rae concluded that doesn’t matter. “What matters is that you are
saying it, that you are exercising that freedom. But freedom is only good
if we use it. So use it. Criticize power; tell truth to power; express the
views of your community; don’t be afraid to punch and punch back. Not
with your fist but with your voices and with your hearts and with your
passion. That’s what makes it great,” Rae emphasized.

President
Thomas Saras presented a certificate of recognition to MP Jim Karygiannis
and honourary membership and award of excellence medal to Indira Naidoo-Harris,
director of Communications, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and
Immigrationfor their
contributions to the council and its work.